Oakland : Development News

On April 14, the William Pitt Debating Union asks Should the Mon-Fayette Expressway Be Completed? during a free public debate at 6p.m. in Frick Fine Arts Auditorium, located at 650 Schenley Dr. in Oakland.

Experts Andrea Boykowycz of PennFuture and Shawn Fox with Allegheny County, along with students Colin Esgro and Richard Pittman, will debate the question during a format that includes audience participation, opening speeches, questions from student panelists, and closing remarks. The second installment in a new series funded by program alum Marcella Finegold, the debate asks participants to examine an overarching "Future of Pittsburgh" theme. In 2011, debate transcripts and analysis will be published.

Homing in on transportation led students to a timely and complex topic. While portions of the Mon-Fayette’s proposed 66 miles are complete, funding is not secured for key segments that would traverse Allegheny County. Advocates favoring the expressway’s completion argue that it would ease economic stress within the Mon Valley and traffic congestion along I-376. Opponents are concerned with the project’s cost and timeline, and argue that public resources and energies would be better invested in alternative transportation projects and existing infrastructure.

“Students had to come up with an issue that’s robust, engages interest and is salient. When the debate process is live, it directly contributes to deliberation in the community about a pending issue and has long-term value as a deliberative record,” says debating union director Gordon Mitchell. “This is one of the onion peeling topics—it’s philosophical, environmental and is about quality of life. One of the beauties of public debate is that you get to pick your topics and craft your format.”

To view the debate via webstream, go here.

Writer: Jennifer Baron
Sources: Gordon Mitchell, director, William Pitt Debating Union; Andrea Boykowycz, outreach coordinator, PennFuture

Image courtesy William Pitt debating union/University of Pittsburgh

You don’t have to be a raw foodie to enjoy Maggie’s Mercantile, the newest restaurant to join Oakland’s Craig St. commercial district.

Located at 300 S. Craig, the one-of-a-kind café, deli and gift shop—which specializes in organic vegan and raw dishes—offers an ever-changing menu, as well as fresh smoothies, vegan baked goods, a salad bar, soy ice cream, and raw desserts.

Owner Maggie Raphael, who also runs a restaurant in Stahlstown and a 94-acre organic farm near Greensburg, was approached by developer Damian Soffer about opening in SouthSide Works after she briefly ran a café on Atwood St. After contemplating the high cost of renovations at SouthSide Works, Raphael began looking for a new location, eventually landing upon one owned by Carnegie Mellon. “They liked the idea of having a place like mine associated with the university. I’m on their meal card program. They were very helpful and supportive,” adds Raphael, who worked with Carl Bergamini and Bill Perkins to renovate the 1,000-square-foot space. “It was imperative to me to incorporate green elements. It’s efficient, aesthetically pleasing and practical—that’s what Maggie’s represents.”

Maggie’s is already seeing high traffic for breakfast and lunch. “We’re working on a refined table service for dinner, and live music. Vegans don’t have to eat café-style everyday,” adds Raphael, who hired manager and raw foodist Matt Miller, along with 9 young employees. “What a perfect neighborhood. I’m encouraged that more and more people are learning to work in harmony with the planet, instead of controlling it.”

Maggie’s also sells cookbooks, eco-friendly products made from bamboo, soy and hemp and t-shirts boasting the café’s “Eat Well, Live Compassionately” motto.

Writer: Jennifer Baron
Source: Maggie Raphael, Maggie's Mercantile

Photograph copyright Brian Cohen

Plans to expand The Pittsburgh Technology Center are underway in Hazelwood. The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) has reviewed bids and selected Allison Park Contractors to complete the next phase of site infrastructure work.

The $19 million project—part of the URA’s ongoing expansion of the center—includes a $5.1 million relocation of Technology Dr., as well as utility and construction inspection work. The 49-acre site can accommodate up to 9 additional new properties and one million square feet of research and development space. Last month, ground was broken on a 723-space parking garage, and in December of 2007, construction began on Bridgeside II, a $65 million 150,000-square-foot web lab facility being developed by Cleveland-based Ferchill Group.

“It’s certainly encouraging that the VC world is discovering what we've long known—that Pittsburgh is very fertile ground for tech startups,” says Robert Rubinstein, with the URA. “Hopefully through investment, we can keep and grow companies here. That’s a large part of why we in the public sector are willing to invest in the infrastructure to create homes for these companies.” Kratsa Properties has an option to build a a140-room hotel—which would include a restaurant—at the center. The site’s expansion also calls for a second parking garage.

The next phase of infrastructure work will take place along the center’s Bates St. side, and is slated to be completed in conjunction with the opening of Bridgeside II and the parking garage at the end of 2008. During the spring of 2009, a new road will be constructed to connect to the western/Downtown entrance of Second Ave. A third access point will be built as a central entrance to the technology center.

Writer: Jennifer Baron
Source: Robert Rubinstein and John Coyne, URA

Image courtesy of The Ferchill Group/Strada

This spring, a popular new gathering spot at Carnegie Mellon University will swing open its giant glass garage doors and debut an al fresco dining area.

During the fall, work was completed on the university’s new Tartans Pavilion, a 5,100-square-foot dining facility designed by Southside-based firm, SPRINGBOARD. Located between Gesling Stadium and Resnik House, the $1.7 million facility features a wood-fired brick oven, barreled ceilings, concrete floors, and flexible seating for 110 people. The project’s architectural highlight is a glass façade constructed from seven, 11-foot garage-style doors, which open up to create the facility’s unique indoor/outdoor environment.

“It’s been packed all of the time. Its primary function is as a gathering space. Its an open and flexible floor plan, so students can rearrange furniture and move tables out to the sidewalk areas,” says Bob Reppe, with Carnegie Mellon. “The building is designed to be completely sustainable. It’s a space unlike any on campus. The university newspaper called it the luxury box for Gesling Stadium.”

Reppe says that Carnegie Mellon is considering applying for LEED certification for the project. “It was designed to be a different experience on campus—you feel like you’re someplace else. It’s proved to be a really popular space,” adds Paul Rosenblatt, a principal with SPRINGBOARD, who says the pavilion features green building systems, low VOC paints, water-based adhesives, and plenty of daylighting. Contractor was Rycon Construction.

Tartans Pavilion serves wood-fired pizzas, sandwiches, pastas, and roasted vegetables to CMU’s 2,500 meal plan holders, as well as to faculty and staff, community members and campus visitors.

Writer: Jennifer Baron
Sources: Bob Reppe, Carnegie Mellon University; Paul Rosenblatt, SPRINGBOARD

Photograph copyright Brian Cohen

Just one year after launching, Carnegie Mellon’s Project Olympus has opened a new project team space at 4620 Henry St. in Oakland. Designed to create and sustain western Pennsylvania's next generation of computing innovation, Project Olympus is spearheaded by Carnegie Mellon computer science professor, Lenore Blum.

After wanting to provide her students with a creative space to collaborate, experiment and innovate, Blum decided to rent a 1,300-square-foot space off of Oakland's Craig St. corridor. “Craig is ideal because it’s close to the university, and in between CMU and Pitt. I see it as the up-and-coming area. The students love going there,” says Blum. “It’s a wonderful start-up space. We commandeered furniture from every office on campus, and it looks brand new." The open layout features exposed brick and wood, barn doors, 18-foot ceilings, and a loft.

The space currently houses twenty students, and Blum expects to add two new teams soon. “The goal is to create  a culture, climate and community that will enable our talent and ideas to grow in the region,” says Blum. “We produce the best technological resources on the planet, and then we export them. Pittsburgh tends to be risk adverse—we’re trying to show that there’s a lot of talent here and you can invest early on. We’ve made such great contacts with the community—people have been so enthusiastic.”

To celebrate its new digs, Project Olympus is hosting an open house on March 5 at 5:30 p.m. For information, contact Cleah Schlueter.

Writer: Jennifer Baron
Source: Lenore Blum, Carnegie Mellon University/Project Olympus

Image courtesy Project Olympus

A $1.5 million pedestrian and roadwork project will begin this spring at 11 intersections along Oakland’s Fifth and Forbes corridors.

Funded via Hometown Streets and Safe Routes to School, the project calls for new pedestrian interval signals, striping, LED lights and ADA ramps. “The premise is to improve pedestrian safety and mobility. It’s good for business, institutions and people who work here, and an investment in maintaining the district’s vitality,” says Ronald Liebow, with University of Pittsburgh. “We’re adding bump-outs, which creates a greater real estate for crossing. We’ll restore pedestrian access every day so people don’t lose foot traffic in front of their shops.”

Work will take place during evening hours and be completed by the winter of 2008. Project designer is Strada; engineer is Wilbur Smith Associates. On Fifth Ave., new bus lane demarcations and a 630-foot steel bus railing will be added to a dense section near Children’s Hospital’s primary care center, and traffic-calming greenery will be added to a triangular concrete island.

“Our mission is to help mitigate congestion and educate people about carpooling, air quality and pedestrian safety,” adds Mavis Rainey, with Oakland Transportation Management Association. “The institutions want to see this area continue to grow. Oakland is Pennsylvania's third most congested region. Several state roads go through Oakland. It’s a very busy, dense area, and also a neighborhood and workplace with cultural and retail amenities. The goal is to make Oakland more livable.”

Oakland is populated by more than 120,000 people and 50,000 vehicles every week; the 1.2-square-mile neighborhood is home to 20,000 residents.

Writer: Jennifer Baron
Sources: Ronald Liebow, University of Pittsburgh; Mavis Rainey, Oakland Transportation Management Association

Image courtesy Oakland Transportation Management Association

The PA Department of Community and Economic Development has released $200,000 to fund The Strategic Community Planning in Pittsburgh Project, the city’s first comprehensive and coordinated plan.

To identify common strengths, challenges and issues, more effectively allocate limited resources and jumpstart neighborhood improvements, the project will combine the city’s 90 neighborhoods into 16 sectors. Next steps will involve gathering data such as population, physical conditions and amenities, in order to create a snapshot of Pittsburgh's 90 neighborhoods.

“It’s the first of its kind, and will be phased out over four years. We need to work toward a common goal and vision. This has been expressed by a lot of community groups,” says city planning director Noor Ismail.

A consortium of government agencies, technical assistance providers, and foundations will conduct studies to ascertain best scenarios for community development. Neighborhood stakeholders will develop a vision for individual sectors, so that business districts, parks and transportation corridors are used more effectively. The plan will also address infrastructure, economic development, housing, and mixed-use and conservation projects.

“A lot of other parallel planning efforts will feed into this—there needs to be some streamlining. For example, infrastructure does not end in one neighborhood. We need to look at wider areas,” adds Ismail, citing the city’s new bike-pedestrian and ADA efforts. “We’re an older built-out city. There’s a connotation that planning is not necessary anymore but it’s tied into quality of life.”

Writer: Jennifer Baron
Source: Noor Ismail, Pittsburgh planning director

Image courtesy Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development

The PA Department of Community and Economic Development has released $200,000 to fund The Strategic Community Planning in Pittsburgh Project, the city’s first comprehensive and coordinated plan.

To identify common strengths, challenges and issues, more effectively allocate limited resources and jumpstart neighborhood improvements, the project will combine the city’s 90 neighborhoods into 16 sectors. Next steps will involve gathering data about population, physical conditions and amenities, in order to create a snapshot of the 90 neighborhoods.

“It’s the first of its kind, and will be phased out into four years. We need to work toward a common goal and vision. This need has been expressed by a lot of community groups,” says city planning director Noor Ismail.

A consortium of government agencies, technical assistance providers, and foundations will conduct studies to ascertain best scenarios for community development. Neighborhood stakeholders will develop a vision for individual sectors, so that business districts, parks and transportation corridors are used more effectively. The plan will also address infrastructure, economic development, housing, and mixed-use and conservation projects.

“A lot of other parallel planning efforts will feed into this—there needs to be some streamlining. For example, infrastructure does not end in one neighborhood. We need to look at wider areas,” adds Ismail, citing the city’s new bike-pedestrian and ADA efforts. “We’re an older built-out city. There’s a connotation that planning is not necessary anymore but it’s tied into quality of life.”

Writer: Jennifer Baron
Source: Noor Ismail, Pittsburgh planning director


Image courtesy Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development

Ground was broken yesterday for Bridgeside Point II, a new $65 million research facility at The Pittsburgh Technology Center in Hazelwood.

Located at 450 Technology Dr. next to the University of Pittsburgh Biotech Center, the  150,000 square-foot development will house wet lab facilities and offices. The project is being developed by Cleveland-based Ferchill Group, whose proposal for the five-story building was approved by the URA board in February. The specialized lab facility is expected to create up to 400 jobs.

To support the project, the URA is investing $19 million in infrastructure work, including a new 750-space parking garage, roadway improvements and utility placement. Future plans for the technology center may call for mixed-use and hotel developments. Project architect is Downtown-based Strada; contractor is Turner Construction Company, who also built Bridgeside Point I, a 153,000 square-foot lab facility at The Pittsburgh Technology Center. Fully leased, the property serves as Cellomics’ headquarters.

Prompted by the success of Bridgeside Point I, Bridgeside Point II is expected to meet the needs of local universities and medical centers who have identified a need for additional laboratory space. The Ferchill Group feels that the demand for quality lab space in locations near Pittsburgh’s academic and medical institutions will result in more than one-million square feet over the next three to five years. Ferchill, who also developed the Cellomics building and Heinz Lofts, has the option to build an adjacent, 120,000 square-foot facility once Bridgeside Point II is 50% leased.

Construction on Bridgeside Point II is slated to take 15 months.


Writer: Jennifer Baron
Source: Joanna Doven, Office of the Mayor, City of Pittsburgh

Image Courtesy of The Ferchill Group/Strada

At noon today, the Hot Metal Pedestrian Bridge will be dedicated on Pittsburgh’s South Side. Visitors are invited to walk or bike across the bridge and attend a reception at REI at SouthSide Works. The $10 million project, managed by the URA, creates a critical connection in the Great Allegheny Passage, a 150-mile trail that will connect Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C..

“The Hot Metal Pedestrian/Bike Bridge is an essential commuter connection between Oakland, Pittsburgh Technology Center and the South Side neighborhood. For recreational activities, the bridge extends the riverfront trail system eliminating roadway crossing and creating an uninterrupted loop for biking, walking and blading,” says Chris Fulton, with Soffer Organization. “Visitors from other urban areas envy our riverfront parks and trails as a quality of life amenity enabling easy access to urban outdoor experiences. As an avid trail user, I am delighted the Hot Metal bridge connection will open on Wednesday.”

The conversion of the 321-foot railroad bridge involved removing lead-based paint, and building a switchback ramp on the south side and a bridge over Second Ave. connecting to Eliza Furnace Trail. All areas feature new railing, lighting and painting. “The most stunning aspect is, coming from Washington D.C., the bridge gives you your first glimpse of Pittsburgh. It’s an Emerald City type of moment when you suddenly see this awesome view of Pittsburgh in the distance,” says Linda Boxx, with the Allegheny Trail Alliance.
 
To secure funding and complete designs, the URA partnered with the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny Trail Alliance, and Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. PB Americas, Inc., served as project designer; contractor was Brayman Construction Corporation. Trumbull Corporation oversaw construction management and inspection.


Writer: Jennifer Baron
Sources: Chris Fulton, Soffer Organization; Linda Boxx, Allegheny Trail Alliance; John Coyne, URA

The Chelsea, a $60 million mixed-use project planned for the corner of Center Ave. and Craig St. in Oakland, is moving forward. Located on a 1.4-acre site that currently houses a Pittsburgh Parking Authority lot, the 17-story project will feature 300 rental units, commercial space and parking for 450 cars.

Project developer Guy Totino of Polaris Real Estate Equities is in the process of resolving zoning issues and variances with the city. “The city is very supportive. We’ve met with both neighborhood groups in Oakland and they’re both very supportive. It’s a question of how it’s going to get done, not whether it’s going to get done,” says Totino.

Units will include one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, as well as loft-style studios. “The last new rental project built in Oakland was probably thirty-plus years ago. It’s an excellent site for mixed-use. The city has targeted it for residential. Oakland is vibrant, very dense and growing. The use complements the area,” adds Totino. “We've designed it to be very respectful of the streetscape, to make the retail fit the area. We’d love to attract some grocery use and a coffee shop—it’s a destination neighborhood.”

The project, which will have a Centre Ave. entrance, will continue onto N. Dithridge and Craig Sts. “It’s a corridor experiencing tremendous commercial growth, with everything that UPMC and CMU are doing. It’s taken us three years; we've had a lot of stamina. It fills a tremendous need,” adds Totino, who says that The Chelsea will be designed by MacLachlan, Cornelius & Filoni Architects. Contractor is Massaro Corporation. The 24-month project is expected to break ground during the summer of 2008.

Writer: Jennifer Baron
Source: Guy Totino, Polaris Real Estate Equities



Photo courtesy of Polaris Real Estate Equities

Winners of AIA Pittsburgh’s 2007 Design Awards were announced on Oct. 25, during the organization’s annual event celebrating architectural excellence. Award categories include architecture, regional and urban design , interior design, open plan, and architectural detail.

“This is the second year we’ve done it Downtown. It’s a great way to make it more public,” says Becky Spevack, with AIA. To spotlight Downtown development, the event was held in an unfinished space at 933 Penn Ave.

Rothschild Doyno Architects received three awards, while EDGE
studio was presented with two honors. Lubetz Architects received an award for the Squirrel Hill Library, an accolade that came as Arthur Lubetz celebrated his 40th anniversary in the field.

The Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens Tropical Forest, designed by IKM Inc., received a green design citation. EDGE studio received an award for their interior design of the New Hazlett Theater. An excellence award was presented to V 24 / 7 / 365, a public art installation on Strawberry Way Downtown designed by studio d’ARC. For architecture, Strada won a certificate of merit for their Hermitage Master plan, and an honor award for their addition and renovation at the Mifflin School.

Every year, a panel of judges is organized in a different U.S. city. This year, architects from Boston selected 14 winners from 98 submissions. “We often focus on institutional and educational buildings—people working in the community. A lot of the firms are very community based,” adds Spevack, who says that sustainable design is also a focus.

For a complete list of winners, as well as jury comments, go here.

Writer: Jennifer Baron
Source: Becky Spevack, AIA Pittsburgh

Image courtesy of Bradd Celidonia

With the new Bike Pittsburgh map, sharing the road just a got a lot easier. In case you’ve lost track, Pittsburgh’s last bicycle map was published 15 years ago during the city’s “Sophie” era.

Featuring cartography created by East Liberty-based tech company DeepLocal, the map is designed for commuters and urban explorers alike. What makes the map stand out are its visually compelling Chris Ware-like illustrations designed by Glen Johnson. Collaboration was nothing new to the team, as Johnston attended CMU with Bike Pittsburgh’s executive director Scott Bricker and DeepLocal founder Nathan Martin.

“You’re not going to find a map like this anywhere in the country. It’s a snapshot in time. We gathered bike maps from all over the country and dissected each one. Most communicated through icons and diagrammatic representations,” says Johnson, 30. “Chicago’s map was the best example. We took what they did and dealt with it more creatively—put in more useful, readable information without overcrowding things.” The result features a comic book-like layout, aerial and close-ups views, a consistent color scheme, and narrative elements that teach bike safety tips.

"We wanted to make the educational parts fun, that’s why we took the graphic novel approach, which is unique," says Bricker. Responding to Pittsburgh’s anti-grid topography, the maps identifies major hills, landmarks and trails, as well as hazardous roads. With an advocacy bent, the map provides information on how to lobby for safer streets. This winter, Bike Pittsburgh will launch an interactive online version.

The project was supported by a $49,200 grant from The Heinz Endowments. To download the map, go here, or pick one up at local bike and coffee shops. Be sure to grab two—one to use and one to frame.

Writer: Jennifer Baron
Source: Glen Johnson; Scott Bricker, Bike Pittsburgh


Image courtesy of Bike Pittsburgh and Glen Johnson

Central Catholic High School, located at 4720 Fifth Ave. in Oakland, has completed a $1 million renovation of its 5,200 square-foot Clifford E. Brown Library.

Lawrenceville-based Desmone & Associates Architects designed the renovation of the library, which was originally constructed in 1927 in the Flemish Gothic style.

Designed to encourage interactive learning, the state-of-the-art facility houses independent and group study areas, comfortable seating, a wireless computer center, and a custom-made circulation desk. The library boasts cutting-edge virtual and distance learning technologies within a modern design. This fall, students began using a newly equipped, soundproof television studio to learn audio-visual techniques and produce school announcements. The renovated space also features a conference room, energy-efficient windows and an upgraded HVAC system.

“The idea was to get better technology working—bring it up to speed and put in a fresh look, installing technology like flat screen monitors and LCD panels. They’re going to phase in distance learning capacities with other schools like Oakland Catholic, as a way to interact,” says Rebecca Schwartz with Desmone & Associates Architects. “It’s a huge open floor plan. The librarian now has a view of the entire library."

To diffuse light and echo the school’s Gothic arches, project architect Chip Desmone designed curved, transparent blue panels for the library’s main aisle. Cherry wood detailing, shelves and furnishings complement the buildings’ original interior. "We created a replica of the original windows—there is new hardware on the doors. It was custom-made to look back to how it was.” Contractor was A. Martini & Co.

Located on the second floor of the three-story high school, the library is used by Central Catholic’s 850 students.

Writer: Jennifer Baron
Source: Rebecca Schwartz, Desmone & Associates Architects

Image courtesy of Desmone and Associates Architects

As part of a yearlong expansion and renovation of its Hillman Hall of Minerals and Gems, the Carnegie Museum of Natural History (CMNH) will open the new Wertz Gallery on Sept. 28th. The 2,000 square-foot gallery will feature a permanent collection of gems and jewelry and the new exhibition, Luxe Life: Masterpieces of American Jewelry.

“Hillman Hall has had a dramatic facelift. People won’t recognize it,” says Ellen James, with the CMNH. “We took a  critical look at the collection.” Highlighting the physical, aesthetic and functional characteristics of minerals, Hillman Hall has been outfitted with a new entrance, display cases and lighting. The hall’s gems, jewels and minerals reflect one of the most active and successful specimen acquisition programs of any North American natural history museum.

Approximately 500 gems, crystals and jewelry--many never before exhibited--will be on permanent display in the new Wertz Gallery, which was designed by The Design Alliance Architects. “It’s only been exhibited temporarily—there was not enough room. It’s a rare opportunity to see a ten-carat diamond and a rough version of that too. It’s a testament to the earth sciences and also aesthetic experience,” adds James, who says the gem and mineral collections are extremely popular. Project contractor was Jendoco Construction Corporation.

Factors such as security, placement and lighting were crucial to the gallery’s design. Cases will feature birthstones, diamond replicas and the tourmalines of Brazil. The gallery will also highlight the lapidary arts, as well as a broche designed by former Carnegie director, Andrey Avinoff.

In November, the CMNH will open its $36 million Dinosaurs in Their Time exhibition, featuring the museum's world-renowned dinosaur collection.

Writer: Jennifer Baron
Source: Ellen James, CMNH

Image courtesy of CMoNH